On eve of Israeli election, candidate Mordechai withdraws

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's Yitzhak Mordechai withdrew from the prime minister's race on Sunday, a day before
the general election.

The Center candidate urged backers to support Labor
leader Ehud Barak, a move that earlier opinion polls said could clinch
Barak's bid to oust Likud Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in
Monday's vote. Mordechai said Netanyahu should be replaced.

Mordechai, former defense minister in Netanyahu's Cabinet until he was fired by the prime minister, joined with other disaffected Likud members to form the new Center Party. But as the campaign progressed, his support began to wane.

On Saturday evening, student demonstrators gathered outside Mordechai's house in a Jerusalem suburb, pleading with him to get out of the race.

It is widely believed that Mordechai's departure would be a boost to Barak. Barak on Sunday urged minor candidates to drop out of Monday's general election to boost his chances of ousting right-wing Netanyahu in one round.

Analysts said the 57-year-old Barak, given a lift when
Israeli Arab candidate Azmi Bishara bowed out of the race late
on Saturday, had a chance to win an absolute majority in the
vote and avert an unprecedented runoff on June 1.

"Whoever doesn't rescind his candidacy is helping Netanyahu
save himself for another two weeks. Everyone has the right to
run but this is immature behaviour," Barak said, in a reference
to Mordechai.

Netanyahu, who came from behind in the closing days to win the last election three years ago, has attacked the polls as inaccurate. The prime minister has told supporters he can still win if the election goes to a runoff between him and Barak.

Israel has never had a runoff and no one knows how many people will turn out to vote.